Conservation
Commission
Present: G.
Speed – Chair; M. Galloway, P. Graves, M. Schupack,
L. Shelley, P. Palmiotto (alt); D. Watson came in
late
Absent: P. Happ, J. Dion
(alt), M.L. Montgomery (alt)
Others Present: Brad Fletcher, Jackie Fletcher
Mr.
Speed called the meeting to order at
Minutes –
Monitoring: Mr. Speed advised that some monitoring of
Conservation Commission lands needs to be done; there are eight
properties. The Monadnock
Conservancy does some town properties each year usually in the spring. They always call the contact person first to
let them know when they will be doing it so someone from the CC can walk with
them. They occasionally discover new
snowmobile trails or logging. Mr.
Shelley volunteered to be the contact person and to do the two LCHIP properties
as well.
Mill Pond Trail: Mr. Schupack and a
group of walkers contacted Mr. Shelley to advise that the Mill Pond trail needs
some work. The brush was not cut so the
trail is narrowed. Mr. Shelley said
there is a question on the west side of the trail as an area was washed out;
they can build a retaining wall but his suggestion is to re-route it so the
property line has to be looked at. Some
signs need to be reposted. It needs
bodies to work on the project. He
recommended doing it in early December, weather permitting. The causeway repairs could be an expense but
it isn’t needed. There was discussion
about liability as it is town property.
Mr. Palmiotto moved to
repair the trail but let the causeway go for now for safety reasons. Mrs. Galloway seconded the motion and, with
all in favor, the motion was approved.
Conservation
Commission Meeting –
Grants: Mr. Watson said there is a grant for $50,000
sitting in the Mason Forest Fund for improvements to the railroad bed but it
will require more than that to get the work done. There was discussion relative to asking the
people who use the trails and seek other volunteers to do some work but offer
to pay them for their fuel and other miscellaneous materials; some areas have
to be made handicapped accessible. Mrs.
Galloway indicated that the snowmobile club will help do some work from “Hall’s
Crossing to George’s Pit”.
Resignation: A letter of resignation was received from Joe
Dion to be effective this date. The CC members wanted to thank him for his
time and efforts while serving on the commission.
Merriam Farm: Mr. Shelley reported that about a month ago
there were some large culverts on the property.
The Town of
Allen Property: Mr. Speed has had no communication from the
State DES on the pond on the Allen property.
Monadnock Farm and Community Connection: Mr. Speed and
the CC received an invitation to attend the Monadnock
Farm and Community Connection meeting on November 14th at
Ballam Farm: Mr. Speed brought the CC
members up-to-date on the latest information received from the Trust for Public
Lands on the Ballam Farm. Mrs. Fletcher feels the public information
has to be clarified especially in terms of a statement made during a Selectboard meeting that “no new tax money” is being used;
it is still Town money even though it was voted at a Town Meeting to give up to
$25,000 to the CC each year from the Current Use Change Tax monies.
Vacancies: There was discussion relative to publicizing
the two vacancies on the Conservation Commission. Mr. Speed had previously resigned his
position as Chair to be effective in March 2008 and Mr. Dion
submitted his resignation effective this date.
Mr.
Speed adjourned the meeting at
Respectfully submitted,
(Note: These are unapproved
minutes. Corrections, if necessary, may
be found in the minutes of the